The National tribune., 1887-05-26
BULL RUN.
A Wisconsin Comrades Observations at the First
Battle OF Manassas.

A Wisconsin Comrades Observations at the First
Battle OF Manassas.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I belonged to
Co f, I'd Wis, in which i served 16 months
We were first ordered to Washington. and after
having camped there few days we crossed the
Aqueduet to Fort Corcoran, and afterward
moved to Centeryilie under the command of
Gen. Mcdowell. June 16, 1861, we had battle
there with the rebels, in which neither party
could claim a victory. A current report was
circulated that we were soon to have the de-
cisive battle at Bull Run, TO which place the
citizens of both sexes fiocked in great numbers
TO witness the defeat Of the rebels, which they
hoped for
The night before the battle we got orders 20
be in line at three o'clock in the morning. At
daylight we moved about three miles down the
macadamzed road and filed 10 the right at
schoolhouse. We formed regimental line of
battle and were ordered TO pile up our KNAPP
sacks taking with US 40 rounds Of ammu-
milton. During this time Sherman's battery
passed our left and when about 100 yards
ahead of US opened on a brigade Of rebels who
were there, with their arms stacked, cooking
breakfast The rebels ran and left their arms
Some of our boys got mp in pine trees 10 see the
rebels run, and regretted that they would never
get a chance to have n shot at a rebel, as they
thought this had finished the war. We were
then ordered 10 follow the rebels at double
quick, leaving our kIapsaeks, and we never re-
turned to take them. After following the reb-
els about a mile we formed hollow square,
and the citizens collected around US. Then in
line Of battle we moved along under shot ard
shell for about mile, driving the rebels before
us. till we arrived at Stone Church.
We were then ordered to support Ricketts's
battery. Before we got there the rebel Black
Horse Cavalry made an attack on the Goth n.
", the most desperate charge j saw during the
war / saw the Goth use their bowie-knives,
and haul the rebels of their horses by their
necks As we 90. in rear Of Rickettss battery
we found that il had been captured by the
! Black Horse Cavalry. Although the men
| fought bravely, the battery had advanced too
/ far into the rebel lines without sufficient sup
4 port to gain the position they desired. We re-
/ captured the battery, and few of US ran up
! aud took positions behind the horses that had
been shot. We saw in our front a rebel regi-
ment issuing from a small grove of pines about
! 30 yards in our front. The Colonel was in the
/ advance, cheering his men with hat and sword
/ in hand. As they came out they formed a COM
pany line and commenced firing at will. Wal
/ lace Ewing, Charles Patrick, Carey Tuckerman,
/ Sidney Mead, George Lincoln and myself all
fred and shot the rebel Colonel and his horse
With pleasure / read in THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UEE that a Grand Army Post has been formed
| al Union Grove Wis, and named George Lin
coin Post, to honor the memory Of this same
George Lincoln, who enlisted at that place.
From daylight until 3 o'clock in the evening
George Lincoln, side by side with me, fought
the rebels until our 40 rounds Of ammunition
were expended We then searched and found
some more ammunition in the haversaeks Of
our fallen comrades, which we discharged
against the rebels. At length / perceived
that the rebel Black Horse Cavalry were cir
cling around Us. i then ran for life, and made
the biggest jump of my life. l leaped over a
six-rail fence to eseape the pursuing cavalry,
and after having jumped fell on my face. A
rebel bullet then passed through my hat and
another through my coat bat l miracuously
escaped injury.
We were defeated in that battle, and !, in a
great measure, attribute the cause of that de-
feat TO the incOnsiderate assembling Of the citi-
zeDs who climbed into trees to view the bat
tlefeld. The rebels perceiving them, thought
that they were our reinfOTcements. The rebels
threw shot and shell amongst the citizens, who
ran for safety, and meeting our reinforcements
coming up, the latter thought the citizens were
pursued by the rebels, and turned and fled.
Being ourselves oyerpowered by the rebels we
were forced to retreat and leave the field to the
victors. As we retreated / saw baskets OF
GRUB" such as would be brought 10 picnic,
and ladies' slippers, skirts, shawls. bonnets and
bustles. As got 10 the big Bloody Run, saw
y
mire. ! gave them assistance without losing
time. and kept right on.
Before me was man wearing plug hat, IN
full retreat he must have mistaken me for a
rebel as my State uniform differed from the
rebels only in this, that / wore a coat while the
rebels wore jackets. He seemed TO fear me
while he ran for life, aud / pursued. / thought
he was a citizen, or perhaps a Congressman Oh
Senator. For all knew he might have been a
blackleg, pickpOeket, or a highwayman but
l was convinced he was good runner. At last
ran into eornfeld and lost sight Of the swift
gentleman, when one Of the Black Horse
Cavalry pursued me and drew his sword to
strike, when his horse leaped over or past me-
the rider turned his horse toward me, but turn
ing shot bim aud he fell. One Of Ellsworth's
ZOuayes told me to 4" lift" him. / did not
then understand what he meant, but / soon
learned, for the Z0uaye came forward and took
from the fallen rebel his eanteen Of whisky
We then got to the maeadamized road, where
we found Sherman protecting the bridge, which
was blockaded with ambulances. The Black
Horse Cavalry charged on Sherman's battery
but got a reception Of grape and canister
that drove them back, and that was all we saw
Of the rebel cavalry for that night.-MIcHAEI
COLEMAN, Go. F, I'd Wis, Chelsea, Neb.